Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(133): “Ruling on Subscribing to Social Security”

Date Added : 27-10-2015

 

Resolution No.(133),(11/2009) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

“Ruling on Subscribing to Social Security”

Date: 1/8/1430 AH, corresponding to 23/7/2009 AD.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

During its third session held on the above given date, the Board reviewed the ruling of Sharia as regards subscribing to voluntary social security.

After thorough studying and deliberating, the Board decided:
Ruling on subscribing to social security was referred to the Board upon the making of the law pertaining to social security. At that time, the Board considered it permissible based on the following:
1- The Social Security Fund is part of the public treasury and giving money to it is a sort of donation or contribution to enrich that treasury which is beneficial to all Muslims.
2- In Islamic Sharia it is obligatory that the public treasury provides for the poor old citizen who can`t provide for himself. The Board mentioned what Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said when he saw one of the people of the book begging. He said: “We haven’t been fair to you; we took Jizyah (a kind of tax) from you when you were young and didn`t provide for you when you got old”. Therefore, he ordered that he receives a maintenance from the public treasury.
3- Due to the fact that the public treasury can`t provide for every poor old person, the social security law was made. This means that the Social Security Fund is obligated to provide for every poor old person who subscribed to it when he was young. This subscription makes it lawful for  him (beneficiary) to receive a maintenance from that Fund.
4- When a citizen reaches the age of retirement and is given a salary from that Fund, if he is poor, then he is permitted to spend it on himself, but if he is rich, then he should give it to the needy.
5- The Board ascertains the content of its above resolution which was issued upon legislating the Social Security Law.

As a result, it is permissible to subscribe to voluntary social security within the aforementioned criteria. And Allah Knows Best.
    

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Nooh al-Qhodat

Vice Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, 

Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Sheikh Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair al-Eesa/ Member

Judge Sari al-Ass`ad/ Member

Dr. Abdurahamn Ibbdah/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Okla/ Member

Dr. Abdunnasir Abulbasal/ Member

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What are the Sunnah acts of fasting?

● Delaying Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) as long as there is no risk of Fajr beginning.
● Hastening Iftar (breaking the fast) immediately after confirming sunset.
● Performing I‘tikaf, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
● Reciting the Quran frequently.
● Avoiding idle and useless talk.
● Being generous and charitable.
● Guarding oneself from desires.
● Purifying oneself from major impurity (janabah) before Fajr.

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah (prophetic tradition) for the person slaughtering to say: "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah), though the most complete and perfect phrasing is to say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). This is in accordance with the words of Allah Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am/118)
 
However, pronouncing it is not an obligatory requirement (Wajib). If someone omits it—whether deliberately or out of forgetfulness—the meat remains entirely lawful (Halal) to eat, though purposely omitting it is considered disliked (Makruh). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Does sacrificing one sheep avail for the entire household?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is a communal Sunnah (Sunnah Kifayah) for members of the same household, provided that their financial maintenance is undertaken by a single provider. By "communal Sunnah," we mean that when one person performs it, the religious recommendation is fulfilled on behalf of the entire household, though the spiritual reward itself belongs uniquely to the one who offered it.
 
Therefore, if any member of the household performs the sacrifice—even if it is someone who is not legally responsible for the household's expenses, such as the wife or one of the children—the recommendation is fulfilled for everyone in that home. However, the reward does not automatically extend to the other members unless the person offering the sacrifice explicitly intends to share the reward with them—similar to how performing a funeral prayer (Janazah) fulfills the communal obligation for everyone, yet the specific reward is earned by those who actually prayed.
 
Additionally, a single sacrifice is sufficient for a man who is married to more than one wife. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on giving Zakat al-Fitr in cash?

The default ruling is that Zakat al-Fitr should be given as the staple food of the land. In Jordan, for example, the staple food is wheat or rice, and the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is 2,500 grams per person. It is easy to give this amount of rice to the poor and needy, and this is the correct ruling according to all Islamic schools of thought.
However, Hanafi scholars have permitted giving Zakat al-Fitr as monetary value, considering it more beneficial for the poor and easier for the giver.